Willy T's (Norman) July 31st

Is anyone planning on being at Norman Island on July 31st? Will be the first night of our week aboard our 514PC and we're looking forward to starting the trip on a memorable note. If you'll be around, please feel welcomed to join us for an adult beverage (or three).

Just be aware that it's a Sunday night, which is locals night at the Willy T. Things can get a bit unusual <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the tip. We like unusual! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/circle.gif" alt="" />

When the local boats head to and from the William Thornton bar after dark they are often going at a high rate of speed and often without running lights or a good watch keeper looking out for dinghies --- so be extra vigilant underway and keep a flashlight handy for making yourself visible quickly if needed.
A lot of these vessels are high speed, high horsepower, Go Fast hulls so even moored well away from the bar you must stay aware.
The local guys like to flirt with the tourist ladies in a very suggestive way sometimes -- that could easily be taken as offensive - don't let an alcohol buzz get you into a confrontation with a bad decision on your 1st evening out partying.Make sure the ladies in your crew are aware that wild behavior, exposing body parts for decal tattoos, or jumping off the deck naked for the famous T-shirt can invite unwanted attention as the night wears on.

Some good advice here for all newcomers to read.

It's also the tail end of Christmas in July.

+1 for localsailor

That sounds like any night at Foxy's and some of those guys are employees/family. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Make sure that your cameras, cell phones and wallets are secure in dry bag or in your pocket. I dropped my camera while getting on the floating dock. Fortunately, the guy working at the Willie T dives the area every morning and got it along with several credit cards. He says he gets something everyday.

All great and welcome advice. Much appreciated!

We were there on a Sunday last trip and knew it was locals night, but didn't know what to expect.

We had a blast. Everyone is friendly and they did a lot of dancing. We are not dances but had a great time drinking and people watching. It's a little bit different (the time before we were there on a Saturday) but didn't feel unwelcome at all. There were other visitors there as well so it wasn't just locals and us.

Great to hear! We've been many times, but never on Sunday night. We're looking forward to it!

Nauti_Couple, I would love to know what your experience was like. We have been to the Willy T at least a dozen times over the past decade and of those times, we accidentally ended up there once on "local's night". It was not "unusual", it was a disaster. The locals are all from the US Virgin Islands and they bring a very bad vibe with them, as well as theft. All of the ladies in our group were physically manhandled by the locals and I was personally hit in the face for looking at someone wrong. Then we got back to our boat and we had been robbed. My advice to everyone that asks is to stay FAR away from the Willy T on Sunday nights. Not fun at all!!!

Were you robbed on the WillyT or was your boat broken into? My experience is most of the locals are from the BVI in the evening. Some USVI during the day.
G

Just physically harassed on the Willy T. The three girls that were with us were grabbed (as in full hand) on their breasts and their asses. The "locals" were completely wasted and one hit me with his fist in my face for absolutely no reason whatsoever. Very intimidating so were stayed smart and left as quickly as possible without instigating anyone. Our boats were broken into (2 of them) and several phone and computers stolen. We actually didn't even realize it until the next day when we were under way. They were brilliant in that they only stole a few phones so we thought we had misplaced them until we all realized that they were gone. We reported it but to no avail. Cops said that is was probably thugs from the USVI. And after spending a LOT of time in the BVI's, I believe them.

The locals were definitely from USVI (St. Thomas specifically). They all came across on little 12-14 foot race boats with huge outboards on them. When I spoke with the crew of the Willy T the next morning, they were apologetic and said that it was a problem.

Really sucks because Willy T is a safe place for us. Its a place we can drink all night, dance until we can't stand and strip out of our clothes and skinny dip if we want to. It really is a place of legend. And we didn't give up on it. Sailed around the other islands and then returned the following Saturday night. And it was all that. And more <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

How long ago was this? How late were you there? Only asking because this was not our experience at all on a Sunday this past April.

Sunday is hit or miss on the crowd. If my group included women I would avoid Sunday. When I have been there on Sunday's I am usually the smallest in my group at 190lbs by a big margin. Nothing like bringing 7 240lb plus cops with you to insure tranquility. I have witnessed the behavior above and helped escort people to their dinghy to escape.
On the theft subject I am not convinced it was the day boats from the USVI. They would look very odd tied to a charter boat while stealing items. The police response was typical of the BVI when it's a crime against a tourist. I suspect no report was even turned in. No report=no crime. After all the job of the police is to keep the BVI crime free, at least in the news.
G

Was a year or two ago. Regardless, the word is out and I wouldn't take my chances on a Sunday night. Just not worth it.

I've twice been there on a Sunday evening/night (including my last trip down a year and half ago), and had not one issue. Sorry to hear that wasn't your experience RT. I can understand, given what happened, why you'd be apprehensive about Sundays. But I wonder if it was just a coincidence that it was a Sunday, and it was just a bad group that happened to show that day.

I just flashed back to my first visit to the Willy T...we had a TTOL gathering there. When I left, one of the organizers of the gathering was handcuffed and up on the bar being prepared for body shots. Not sure if any of those "old" posters are still around.

Pretty sure Hillsideview (Bruce ) is still kicking around here.... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />

I don't even want to think about that image! <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Sick.gif" alt="" />

Sundays at Willy T have been known to have some, shall we say, "talent" brought in for the local crowd.